English Reference

Word

mirin

US/ˈmiɹɪn/

UK/mˈɪɹɪn/

Definition

n. a sweet rice wine from Japan that people use for cooking. It adds a nice shine and a gentle sweetness to sauces like teriyaki.

n. a type of sweet rice wine used as a staple condiment in Japanese cuisine. It possesses a lower alcohol content than sake and a high sugar content, which provides a glazed finish to cooked dishes.

Examples

“You should add a splash of mirin to the sauce.”

“The chef whisked together soy sauce, ginger, and mirin to create a balanced marinade for the salmon.”

“Authentic mirin, known as hon-mirin, is produced through a months-long fermentation process that naturally converts rice starches into complex sugars, resulting in a deep umami profile.”

Examples

simple

“You should add a splash of mirin to the sauce.”

contextual

“The chef whisked together soy sauce, ginger, and mirin to create a balanced marinade for the salmon.”

complex

“Authentic mirin, known as hon-mirin, is produced through a months-long fermentation process that naturally converts rice starches into complex sugars, resulting in a deep umami profile.”

Usage

Often used in a 1:1 ratio with soy sauce in traditional glazes.

Real-World Examples

“Next, add the soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and beef stock, cooking until the sauce thickens to a syrupy consistency—around 10 minutes.”
The Guardian · 8 Feb 2018
“Inside the cardboard packaging, you'll usually find insulation, messy ice packs, and a myriad of small plastic bags, boxes, and jars containing items like sprigs parsley, tablespoon of butter, and a splash of mirin.”
Wired · 28 Dec 2017
“In a small bowl, combine the sugar, mirin, and soy sauce with one tablespoon of water.”
The Guardian · 2 Jun 2015
“Combine a tablespoon of dark soy sauce, honey, and mirin in a small roasting dish.”
The Guardian · 20 Apr 2013

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 味醂 (mirin).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Cooking

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference